From working in retail to just generally living my life, I encounter toxic people nearly every day. Chances are that you’re around toxic people every day as well, whether they’re from work, in the same restaurant as you or maybe even family members or acquaintances. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the negativity that person is projecting, and we all do that from time to time.

But wouldn’t it be nice if you were able to remain calm, cool and collected when dealing with toxic people, especially if you deal with them on a regular basis? Here’s how to not let their negativity get to you:

Keep their attitude in check

I think this is the most important thing to keep in mind: their attitude likely has nothing to do with you. If someone is being rude to you, you may think it’s because of something you have done. And while that may be the case, most of the time their attitude is totally unrelated to you; you’re just the current target. Some people like to get caught up in drama and gossip, and if that’s not how you are, people can be threatened by that.

Take a deep breath

It may sound silly, but it totally works, I promise. Sometimes I find myself getting worked up over various things, and then I take a deep breath. It helps center me more and calm me down, and then I’m able to think more rationally about a situation. Is it worth it getting all worked up by toxic people? No. Try to stop yourself before the situation escalates rather than getting sucked into the negativity.

Distract yourself

If there’s a toxic person at work or next to you in the coffee shop, find ways to distract yourself: play a game on your phone, listen to music, text a friend, read a book, focus on a project. Preoccupy your mind, and it’ll be easier to not be affected by their negative vibes.

Stay in your happy bubble

Even if you can’t listen to music or talk to someone, just thinking about what makes you happy has an effect on your mood. As silly as it sounds, stay in your happy bubble. If you think of it that way, maybe it’ll be easier to follow through. You’re happy right now, and someone else’s negativity has no bearing on that. Some people just really love to bring other people down. It’s that simple. You could let that person ruin your day, or you could process what they’re saying and let their words just stay words.

Let it go

No matter what you say or do, some people may continue being rude to everyone they meet, or even just you. Rather than trying to constantly fix or please someone, let it go. Don’t let their negativity get to you. I want to be liked and helpful and a positive influence, but some people just aren’t open to that. You’ll go crazy if you try to get approval or validation from everyone, so if it’s clear someone isn’t interested in changing their attitude, let it go.